Hey, I'm Ethan!

My name is Ethan Phan! I'm an undergraduate student at Georgia Tech studying Math and Computer Science. In my free time, I enjoy creating and solving puzzles, practicing piano, cooking, juggling, and bouldering.

academics

I think about math a lot. I like low-dimensional topology, specifically knot theory. As for some hot mathematical takes (as of when this was last updated): I eat my corn in rows and I take the continuum hypothesis to be true, as well as the Axiom of Choice. The second viewpoint is heavily influenced by my Conjecture & Proof class that I took in Budapest during my study abroad (Summer 2023).

My graduate-level coursework includes MATH 6337 (Real Analysis 1), MATH 6338 (Real Analyis 2), MATH 6441 (Algebraic Topoology), MATH 8803 (Set Theory).

I'm comfortble using Java, Python, HTML/CSS, Javascript, SQL, LaTeX, and am familiar with other tools referenced in the next section.

things i've made

A Seifert surface of a trefoil that I crocheted!

Projects:

Tools & scripts:

teaching

I've been a Teaching Assistant every semester since my second year.

puzzles

I like to create and solve puzzles. Broadly, I would categorize my puzzle interests into 'logic puzzles' and 'hunt puzzles'.

In July 2021, I organized and hosted the Hunt20 Puzzlehunt (what is a puzzlehunt?). I wrote 19/20 of the puzzles in the hunt and set up the website (modified from gph-site).

You can check out some of the logic puzzles I have written (and other puzzly things) on my puzzle blog.

piano

I am a classically trained pianist and have been playing for years. By far, my favorite composer is Franz Liszt. There is no close second place - I am all for his crazy virtuostic passages. Here are some of my favorite pieces that I've played (they're not all Liszt... but well...):

If I had to recommend a few pieces to listen to:

And here are the pieces that I'm currently working on:

juggling

I first learned how to juggle with the Georgia Tech juggling club in September 2022. Since then, juggling has grown to be an addiction of mine. I've learned 4 balls and 3 clubs and am now mainly working on 5 balls and 4 ball Mills' Mess, as well as some other fun tricks with clubs.

ambigrams

Ambigrams are designs of words that can be read in different directions (sometimes with different meanings with different perspectives). Here a few that I've designed.

contact me

I can be reached by email at ethanphan@ga and you can also find me on Github.